The Constitution was adopted by membership in March 1982. Below is the constitution as it reads updated with all the amendments.

AkASL is an independent association which is also a roundtable of the Alaska Library Association (AkLA) and an affiliate of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL).

The Puffin is the AkASL logo.

“The mission of the Alaska Association of School Librarians is to advance a high standard for the school library profession and the library/information programs in the schools of Alaska.”

ARTICLE I: NAME

A. The name of this organization shall be the “Alaska Association of School Librarians, hereinafter referred to as the “Association”.

ARTICLE II: OBJECTIVES

A. The objectives of the Association shall be:

To advance a high standard for the school library profession and the library/information program in the schools of Alaska.

To promote the development of continuing education activities in order to facilitate the development of professional skills and the extension of professional knowledge.

To encourage elected officials, administrators, teachers and library/information specialists to provide the best possible library/media experiences for all students in the state of Alaska.

To promote public understanding of the importance of library/information programs and libraries in the education of all students.

To support the inherent right of the individual to have access to ideas and information.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

A. Membership in this organization shall be confined to those who have paid their dues in the following classes:

Active membership. Alaska school librarians who currently teach, direct, coordinate or supervise in the field of school library information services are individual members and entitled to vote.

Honorary membership. Individuals who have served the profession with distinction shall become voting members for life with the approval of the Executive Board.

Associate membership. Retired Alaskan school librarians, individuals in school library paraprofessional positions, librarians working in associated fields, library friends and supporters, unemployed or out of state librarians, and students are associate members and entitled to a vote.

Commercial membership. Any commercial organization interested in library service shall be without vote.

Courtesy membership. A one-year complimentary, non-voting membership may be granted upon approval of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE IV: ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT

A. Executive Board.

Authority. The Executive Board shall have the power and authority to manage the Association’s property and to regulate and govern its affairs. The E Board shall determine policies of the Association and shall take such actions as it considers necessary to carry out the objectives of the Association.

Members.

The Board shall consist of the President, the President-Elect, the Immediate Past-President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, a representative elected from each of the four regions of the state, the Membership Coordinator, the Puffin Editor, the Battle of the Books chair(s), the Webmaster and the Grants Coordinator. The State School Library Media Coordinator shall be an ex-officio member with the privilege of attending all meetings.

AkLA Liaison. The President or his/her designee shall serve as liaison to the AkLA Board on behalf of the Association.

Chair.

The President shall serve as Chair of the E Board.

The President shall appoint a Chair for each committee, with the approval of the Board. The President shall serve as a member of all committees.

Quorum. A quorum shall consist of eight (8) voting members.

B. Officers.

1. Elected Officers. President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and four Regional Representatives.
2. Voting. Balloting shall be conducted by e-mail not less than thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting. The candidate who receives the highest number of votes shall be elected to each office.
3. Term of Office.

a) The President is elected to serve a three year term, the first as President Elect, the second as President, and the third as Past President. The President is elected from among the current board members.

b) The Secretary shall be elected to serve for two years.

c) The Regional Representatives shall be elected to serve for one year.

d) A treasurer shall be elected to serve for a three year term with the third year as a past-treasurer consultant. A new treasurer shall be elected at the end of the second year to begin the position under the guidance of the past treasurer.

e) The Membership Chair, Webmaster, Puffin Editor, Grants Coordinator and Battle of the Books Chair are appointed by the President and confirmed by the E Board and serve at their pleasure.

4. Vacancies. In the event that an elected officer shall be unable to serve out his term, the Executive Board shall appoint a successor to complete that term. If the office of President becomes vacant, the President-Elect shall fill the office. A vacancy in the office of President-Elect shall be filled by the election process.

5. Duties. Duties of the officers shall be described in the Association Policy Manual.

ARTICLE V: MEETINGS
A. There shall be one or more meetings of the general membership annually, to be convened by the Executive Board. Such meetings shall be announced at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the meeting, and the assembled members shall constitute a quorum.

B. Any business of the Association may be transacted at a meeting of the Association, with the exception of the final ballot on amendments to this Constitution.

C. There shall be regular meetings of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE VI: VOTING

A. Voting privileges shall be exercised by all current active, honorary and associate members.

ARTICLE VII: COMMITTEES

A. Special Committees.

The President shall establish special committees with the approval of the E Board.

The powers and duties of each special committee will be determined at the time of the establishment by the President with the approval of the E Board.

The length of time a special committee will function will be determined by the President and the E Board.

B. Chair. The President shall appoint a Chair for each committee, with the approval of the E Board. The President shall serve as a member of all committees

ARTICLE VIII: FISCAL YEARA. Dates. The Fiscal Year of the Association shall be July 1 through June 30.

B. Dues. Dues shall be determined by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE IX: PARLIAMENTARY STANDING
In parliamentary procedure, Robert’s Rules of Order, latest edition, shall be the authority except in matters specifically provided for in this Constitution.

ARTICLE X: AMENDMENTS AND CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION

A. Proposals. Amendments to the Constitution may be initiated by:

a) The Executive Board.

b) A written petition to the E Board signed by fifteen (15) active members.

B. Notice. Proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be sent to the membership at least thirty (30) days prior to the day of voting.

C. Voting. The Constitution may be amended by a 2/3 majority of the members voting on a ballot.

ARTICLE XI: DISSOLUTION

In the event that AkASL should cease to exist or perform its constitutional function, any assets, be they monetary or material, shall be conveyed to the Alaska Library Association by the last existing Executive Board.

AMENDMENTS

AMENDMENT I. NAME

The name of this organization shall be changed from the American Association of School Librarians/Alaska to the Alaska Association of School Librarians, hereinafter referred to in the Handbook as the “Association”.

1b. The Executive Board shall consist of the President, the President- Elect, the Immediate Past-President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and an elected representative from each of the three regions of the state—Southeast, South Central, and Northern. The Puffin Editor, the State School Library Media Coordinator, the Battle of the Books Chair, and the Governor’s Advisory Council Representative shall be ex-officio members with the privilege of attending all meetings.

—(adopted December 1989)

AMENDMENT IV. ARTICLE IV: 1e

1e. A quorum of the Executive Board shall consist of five (5) voting members.

—(adopted December 1989)

AMENDMENT VI. ARTICLE VII

Standing committees shall be abolished and special committees shall be established by approval of the Board.

—(adopted December 1989)

AMENDMENT VII. ARTICLE VIII

The Fiscal year of the Association shall be July 1 – June 30.

—(adopted December 1989)

AMENDMENT VIII. ARTICLE X

ARTICLE X: AMENDMENTS AND CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION

—(adopted December 1989)

AMENDMENT IX. ARTICLE III: A

Active Members. Alaska school library media specialists, as well as those who teach, direct, or supervise in the field of school library media services, and who are in agreement with the objectives of the Association shall become members of the Association upon payment of dues.

—(adopted March 1993)

AMENDMENT X. ARTICLE III: D

Courtesy Members. Individuals who are actively promoting and advancing school library media programs, who are in agreement with the objectives of the Association shall become members upon payment of dues, and shall have all privileges of membership except the right to vote and hold office.

—(adopted March 1993)

AMENDMENT XI. ARTICLE IV: 1b

1b. Members. The Board shall consist of the President, the President-Elect, the Immediate-Past-President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and an elected representative from each of the four regions of the state-Southeast, South-Central, Northern, and Western. The Puffin Editor, the State School Library Media Coordinator, the Battle of the Books chair(s), and the Governor’s
Advisory Council Representative shall be ex-officio members with the privilege of attending all meetings.

2a. The President shall be an active member of ALA, AASL, AkLA, and
this Association. Other elected officers are encouraged to be members of these organizations.

—(adopted March 1993)

AMENDMENT XIV. ARTICLE II: A, C, D

to advance a high standard for the school library profession and the library/information program in the schools of Alaska.

to encourage elected officials, administrators, teachers and library/information specialists to provide the best possible library/information experiences for all students in the state of Alaska.

to promote public understanding of the importance of library/information programs and libraries in the education of all students.

—(adopted November 1995)

AMENDMENT XV. ARTICLE III: A, B, C, D

Active Members.

Alaska school library/information specialists who currently teach, direct, or supervise in the field of school library/information services, and who are in agreement with the objectives of the Association, shall become members of the Association upon payment of dues.

—(adopted November 1995)

Honorary Members.

Individuals who have served the profession with distinction shall become members for life with the approval of the Executive Board.

—(adopted November 1995)

Associate Members.

Retired school librarians, individuals in school library clerical positions, and those who are in agreement with the objectives of the Association, shall become members upon payment of dues. They shall have all privileges of membership except the right to vote or be elected to office.

—(adopted November 1995)

Commercial Members.

Businesses or organizations shall become commercial members upon payment of dues and shall receive copies of the AASL Information Directory, the Puffin and the official Battle of the Books list.

—(adopted November 1995)

AMENDMENT XVI. ARTICLE IV: 1b, 1e, 2c, 2e

1b. Members. The Board shall consist of the President, the President-Elect, the Immediate-Past-President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, a representative elected from each of the four regions of the state (Southeast, South Central, Northern, and Western), the Membership coordinator, the Puffin Editor/Publisher, the Battle of the Books chair(s), the Awards
chair, and the Governor’s Advisory Council Representative. The State School Library Media Coordinator shall be an ex-officio member with the privilege of attending all meetings.

1e. Quorum. A quorum shall consist of eight (8) voting members.

2c. Term of Office. The President and President-Elect shall serve a term of one year. The Treasurer and Secretary shall be elected on alternate years to serve for two years. The Regional Representatives shall serve for one year.

2e. Duties. Duties of the officers shall be described in the Association Policy Manual.

—(adopted November 1995)

AMENDMENT XVII. ARTICLE V

There shall be one or more meetings of the general membership annually, to be convened by the Executive Board. Such meetings shall be announced at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the meeting, and the assembled members shall constitute a quorum. Any business of the Association may be transacted at a meeting of the Association, with the exception of the final mail ballot on amendments to this Constitution. There shall be regular meetings of the Executive Board.

—(adopted November 1995)

AMENDMENT XVIII. ARTICLE VII: 2

The President shall appoint a Chair for each committee, with the approval of the Board. The President shall serve as a member of all committees.

—(adopted March 2003)

AMENDMENT XIX. ARTICLE IV: A, 2a

Representatives shall be elected from each of the four regions of the state

B4d. A treasurer shall be elected every 3 years. A treasurer-elect shall be elected on the second year in order to be trained and debriefed during the treasurer’s final year.

—(adopted February, 2009)

AMENDMENT XXI. ARTICLE III

Membership in this organization shall be confined to those who have paid their dues in the following classes:

Active membership.

Alaska school librarians who currently teach, direct, coordinate or supervise in the field of school library information services are individual members and entitled to vote.

Honorary membership.

Individuals who have served the profession with distinction shall become voting members for life with the approval of the Executive Board.

Associate membership.

Retired Alaskan school librarians, individuals in school library paraprofessional positions, librarians working in associated fields, library friends and supporters, unemployed or out of state librarians, and students are associate members and entitled to a vote.

Commercial membership.

Any commercial organization interested in library service shall be without vote.

Courtesy membership.

A one-year complimentary, non-voting membership may be granted upon approval of the Executive Board.

—(adopted January, 2014)

AMENDMENT XXII. ARTICLE IV: A2a

The Board shall consist of the President, the President-Elect, the Immediate Past-President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, a representative elected from each of the four regions of the state, the Membership Coordinator, the Puffin Editor, the Battle of the Books chair(s), the Webmaster and the Grants Coordinator. The State School Library Media Coordinator shall be an ex-officio member with the privilege of attending all meetings.

—(adopted January, 2014)

AMENDMENT XXIII. ARTICLE IV: A2b

Representatives shall be elected from each of the four regions of the state:

Article IV: B2. The President shall be an active member of ALA, AASL, AkLA, and
this Association. Other elected officers are encouraged to be members of these organizations.

—(adopted January, 2014)

AMENDMENT XXVI. ARTICLE IV: B4

a) The President is elected to serve a three year term, the first as President Elect, the second as President, and the third as Past President. The President is elected from among the current board members.

b) The Secretary shall be elected to serve for two years.

c) The Regional Representatives shall be elected to serve for one year.

d) A treasurer shall be elected to serve for a three year term with the third year as a past-treasurer consultant. A new treasurer shall be elected at the end of the second year to begin the position under the guidance of the past treasurer.

e) The Membership Chair, Webmaster, Puffin Editor, Grants Coordinator and Battle of the Books Chair are appointed by the President and confirmed by the E Board and serve at their pleasure.

—(adopted January, 2014)

AMENDMENT XXVII: VI

Voting privileges shall be exercised by all current active, honorary and associate members.